<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
EXTRACTED FROM THE FRANKLIN FEDERAL TAX-FREE INCOME
FUND OCTOBER 31, 2000 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> FRANKLIN FEDERAL TAX-FREE INCOME FUND - CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2001
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 6,369,411,851
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 6,517,767,331
<RECEIVABLES> 127,191,891
<ASSETS-OTHER> 97,544
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 6,645,056,766
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 24,185,777
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 11,496,920
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 35,682,697
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 6,506,851,664
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 7,287,971
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 5,800,135
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,573,416
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (48,406,491)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 148,355,480
<NET-ASSETS> 6,609,374,069
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 206,622,454
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (20,696,638)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 185,925,816
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (446,759)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 140,785,377
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 326,264,434
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1,886,734)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,701,774
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (322,089)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 88,151
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 22,082,559
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2,695,511
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (47,959,732)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (14,940,479)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (20,696,638)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 6,570,787,273
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.410
<PER-SHARE-NII> .290<F1>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .240
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.290)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.650
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.180<F2>
<FN>
<F1>BASED ON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING.
<F2>ANNUALIZED
</FN>
</TABLE>
